One part of the new plan, much insisted on by the consultants Tuesday, appears to address that phenomenon by calling for incentives for homeowners and small businesses to encourage the creation of “sustainable clusters within their neighborhoods."

I have not read the plan. I plan on it, but I really am put off by some of this. I am glad that "Green-Space" ideas are gone. However, when I initially read this summary in the Times, I had a few thoughts...

Are people willing to give up rights to the property they own to move into "clusters." When and how does one make the decision to do that? Do you come and work like a mad person on your house, the only person on your block to do so, and then find out that it would have made more sense to move two blocks over where three people on the same block have come back? How and when do you know? What do you do with your property?

I didn't see in the summary anything about affordable housing. This is a major concern to me. If there are not affordable housing units, then it is going to take a long time for New Orleans to come back. Because not all New Orleanians are wealthy, white, or from Uptown. Everyone that can and wants to come back should be able to come back.

Hope doesn't rebuild a city. Ask the Saints. While it was great to have something to look forward to each week, and it was a great ride, the Saints didn't rebuild New Orleans. They can help us all feel better and give us something in common, but the work needs to be done by the people on the ground. I guess specifics would be nice. And financing. Hope's not a bad thing. But I think that most of the machines that are going to help New Orleanians rebuild are in place (even if the Road Home is not all that welcoming).

People want to come home. This is a nice gesture, but I think people have had enough of gestures and talk and empty promises. I hope that that's not all this is.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

I have heard nothing of this yet. I am sure that I will. And I hope there are some solutions to the violent crime in this hiring (though I am sure that easing poverty, concentrating the poor in dilapidated buildings, improving educational infrastructure, real jobs, a reliable transportation network, etc. would be better long term).

If you've ever asked yourself, as you've watched the post-Katrina morass of incompetence and violence that has engulfed New Orleans, whether that city has suffered enough, you have your answer. And that answer is "no."

N'awlins, get ready for...the magical world of Lee P. Brown!

Brown, who was Atlanta's public-safety commissioner during a famously inept serial-murder investigation, who was New York's police commissioner during the ineptly handled Crown Heights riots, who was Houston mayor while the HPD crime lab was run...eptly? Guess again!...has been hired to solve New Orleans' massive violent-crime problem.

If his time here is any indication, Brown will implement a two-pronged attack. He will a) bore everyone to death, using content-less, cliché-filled, charisma-free speeches to put criminals into a stupor; and b) take a lot of taxpayer-funded out-of-town trips. We're sure Rome and London need to be studied closely for tips on how to stop Ninth Ward gangbangers.

Brown told the Louisiana Weekly that "there is no silver bullet that is going to say that this is going to be done tomorrow...Working together, you can get the job done."

"I haven't a clue if this guy is going to do any good. I hope he does," said Spud McConnell, popular talk-show host at the city's WWL-AM. "Lord knows we've had enough people come over here, get a big paycheck for giving their opinion and then walking away."

CB Forgotston, a blogger who closely follows the crime wave at www.forgotston.com, also is skeptical. "In Louisiana, [it's not] that we lack plans...We don't need any more plans, frankly. I think what we lack in New Orleans is implementation and common sense," he says.

Forgotston, a lawyer and community activist, doesn't seem blown away by the dynamism that is Lee P. Brown: "He's going to take six months to study it, 'maximum.' And, you know, maximum always becomes a minimum. So my point is: How many people are going to die between now and the next six months, while we're waiting on a plan?"

We don't know, CB. But we do know that now when it happens, Lee Brown will be there with a platitude to make everything seem better.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

It was hard to sleep on Saturday night. I was so excited, nervous, and worried. But I got up and got dressed in the morning - lots of layers and a heavy coat. We had a few errands to do, selling other tickets, going to a party at the Hilton, and having a few drinks at the Wabash Tap. At last we walked to the stadium - lots and lots of Saints fans there shouting "Who dat!" and singing "I believe!" A brass band showed up playing "When the Saints Go Marching In." My friends had their own seats down at the 5 yard line but I was up in the end zone alone. I was undaunted. I had on my Deuce McAllister jersey, a Saints sweatshirt, a cap, and a warm hat. I sat in my frozen seat with snow all over my back, and I talked to the people in my aread while waited for the game to start. The first half was uneventful for me (one good drive and a couple of amazing catches), and the Bears' fans seemed disappointed in their boys. But the Bears were hitting hard and forcing the ball loose. They easily could have scored 28 points, but they only had 16. And the Saints still seemed to be controlling the game. Ironic.At the half things were bad, but they certainly weren't over. Then they came out in the second half and scored that amazing touchdown. And just like that, the stadium got real quiet. Then Drew threw that pass out of the end zone and there was no one in sight. That play got the crowd riled. It started to really snow. Then Thomas Jones took over and started hitting holes and running like a man on fire. The only name heard on every defensive call was Brian Uhrlacher. He was everywhere, and he was unrelenting. I kept waiting for Deuce to run off tackle or Reggie to break one outside. But it didn't happen. We got farther and farther down. The Bears were prepared. They had us on our heels, and the game was over. At first I was sad and disappointed. The season was over. Suddenly, however, I was (and still am) proud. We went from last place to SuperBowl contender in one season. In just 20 weeks, there was joy and happiness and most of those weeks were good ones because we were winning. All year we played hard. Every game mattered. This Sunday just wasn't our day. But next year we will be back. We will be ready. And next year, we get to hope again.

Bless you, boys. Thanks for a great ride.

For the inspirational effects of this team and this year on New Orleans read this. or this. or this. (H/T to Mr. Clio)

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Yesterday was interesting. I woke up feeling sick. Worse than the day before, actually. But I knew that I had to explore a little. I finally left the room around 12 noon and was looking for the location of the Weber Grill Restaurant - everything there is cooked on a charcoal grill. I went north up Dearborn and just walked. It's hard to get a feel for a town when you are in its downtown on a weekend. However, everything was clean and nice. Lots of restaurants and shops. I had a hotdog at Mr. J's. Not bad, not good. Just a dog.

As my people started coming in, we agreed to meet at Fado's Irish Bar. Nice place. Waitresses could have been a little more warm, but it was fun. I met my Latin teacher buddy and his girl over a the Weber restaurant. Good times, good food, good fun.

Could not sleep last night. I kept waking up do see if it was time to go to the game. It's snowing. It's wet. But it's football weather. Saints have a team geared towards this kind of game. I think we are meeting with some people who are cooking red beans and rice to tailgate before the game. Section 253. By myself. Can't wait!!!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

One of the reasons I came to Chicago for the Saints game was to hang with one of my Latin teacher buds. I brought a ream of materials that I use with 5th graders for a friend of his that is starting a new middle school Latin program. Of course, we text messaged in Latin and spent a good portion of the evening talking about teaching Latin. I think I am done with that portion of this trip.

Last night we went out in Wrigleyville - had a really good blue cheese burger and some chili fries at a nice little place called the Avenue Tavern (upscaly, but not pretentious - Think the Bulldog on Canal Blvd.). Then we headed to Friar Tuck's (divy but not dark enough - the old Robert's bar had a similar feel) for a beer and then across the street to Monsignor Murphy's (nice, dark, but not divy and a little young for me - New Bruno's). I tend to favor dive bars, personally. Then the medicine hit me. I had to take the bus back to the hotel.

I am ready to light this place up tonight - taking names along the way.

So far, here in Chi-Town, the people here seem split 50-50 on whether the Saints will win. They don't think Grossman is very good, but they think he is the future of their team (is this ironic or foreboding?) . But they are scared of the Saints potent offense.

On the agenda today:

Make reservations at the Weber Grill Restaurant on State St.

Listen to some Blues.

Shake this cold (or not. It won't matter when the adrenaline starts flowing).

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Without revealing price (because my wife might read this one day), let it be known that Latin Teacher has found a ticket in the 200 level for a fair (though perhaps not as reasonable as one might have thought) price. I will be sitting by myself in a sea of Bears fans, praying for my life and holding a sign of some sort. It may be an arrow pointing to me so that my students may be able to identify me. It may just be a fleur de lis. Or some other witty saying that I need to spend some time thinking about. Nonetheless, this Latin teacher is going to Chicago, into the den of Bears, to sit alone and unafraid, to root on his hometown team - the New Orleans Saints. I hope to publish reports from the Windy City regarding my adventures and experiences. GO SAINTS!!!!!

For those who live in or are heading to the Chicago area, I must tell you to be prepared. Natural disasters tend to follow me. Looks like snow is predicted for Monday and Tuesday of next week. Just wanted to let you know. Stock up on supplies now.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Enough is enough. I can't imagine what the city is going through right now. There are less than half as many people in New Orleans now as there were before Katrina and the failure of the levees. And yet the murders continue. As dire as the situation is, these 17 months later, and as desperate as people feel, nothing should be compounded by the fear that is overtaking the city. I have said it before, and I will say it again: If you had a chance to start from scratch, to do everything over again, would you do it all exactly the same way? Because this is what I sense is happening. Ray Nagin, with all his acting and feigned outrage, is not changing in the Post-K world. We will spew the same rhetoric as before. "The criminals need to go." No joke. How? How can you do it differently? Why do you continue to run the show without real interest? If a crime affects one of the people of New Orleans, it affects all the people of New Orleans. Eddie Jordan is obviously incompetent. Warren Riley is ineffective. Even though the situation has changed, the solutions are the same. Does anyone else see this as a problem? It's called situational awareness. Apparently the people in charge think the same old tired methods will work. They won't. I wish I could take off work tomorrow to march on City Hall and through the streets of New Orleans to protest the killing. But the criminals won't be marching. They won't be watching. And they won't care. But, goddammit, enough is enough. New Orleanians will stand up together and say it. And I hope to God that someone who can change things is listening. Then I hope they do something about it.

About Me

I grew up in Metairie, LA and lived in actual New Orleans for 12 years. The day that I turned 30, I moved to New Jersey and then to Easton, PA 4 years ago. As luck would have it, I was in New Orleans when Katrina approached and evacuated to Jackson, MS. Other than that, I am a Latin and history teacher at a small, independent school in NJ. I miss New Orleans a lot, think about it all the time, and try to go there whenever the work schedule allows.